Now that we’ve identified some of the common risk factors associated with yellowing teeth, let’s take a look at how to fix the smile-reducing situation.

There are plenty of products to choose from when it comes to at-home teeth whitening, let’s examine some of the safest & most effective.

7 Safe & Effective At-Home Teeth Whitening Methods

1. A Diligent Daily Dental Hygiene Regimen

While tooth discoloration does occur naturally with age, that yellowish hue is largely due to the build-up of plaque on your teeth.

Maintaining a daily dental hygiene regiment of brushing – for #2min2x a day – along with daily flossing is one of the best at-home teeth whitening methods there is, despite what the FDA says.

It doesn’t matter if your weapon of choice is a manual or electric toothbrush, just do it.

And it won’t cost you anything extra!

Regular brushing & flossing will help you stop the cavity creeps in their tracks by reducing bacteria in your mouth and preventing the build-up of plaque.

Toothpaste gently rubs out stains on your teeth, and flossing removes bacteria that lead to plaque.

2. Regular Dental Cleanings

Despite your best efforts to frequently floss and brush your teeth for two minutes at a clip twice a day, the bottom line is that you still need professional dental cleanings at least every six months.

So before you go buy the latest greatest charcoal teeth whitening toothpaste on Amazon or a pack of Whitestrips at the supermarket, keep your regularly scheduled dental appointment to make sure you’re starting your at-home teeth whitening efforts with a clean slate…and a healthy mouth.

Daily brushing and flossing, along with regular cleanings at the dentist’s office, will prevent the build-up of yellowing plaque on your teeth.

It’s basically a triple threat to the cavity creeps.

3. Try Baking Soda + Peroxide

Due to its natural whitening properties, baking soda is a common ingredient in toothpaste. It’s also mildly abrasive, which helps to scrub away surface stains on your teeth without eroding tooth enamel.

In addition, baking soda creates an alkaline environment in your mouth, which prevents bacteria from growing.

The hydrogen peroxide will lighten stains as the baking soda scrubs them away.

Be sure to either dilute the hydrogen peroxide or use the lowest concentration – typically 3% is sold over the counter. You can dilute more by adding equal parts water.

Not only does this at-home teeth whitening method effective, but it’s also pretty darn cost-effective too.

Simply add one tablespoon of hydrogen peroxide to two tablespoons of baking soda and mix. Brush your teeth with this stain-fighting slurry for two minutes.

Several studies show that toothpaste with baking soda has a significant whitening effect.

Limit the use of this homemade paste to a few times per week, as overuse can erode your tooth enamel.

4. Can You Say Cruciferous?

Everyone knows that in order to eat, food goes in our mouths, but does everyone know that the foods you eat have a direct impact on your oral health?

Cruciferous fruits and vegetables actually help scrub your teeth while you eat them, making them a great natural at-home teeth whitening method.

Here are a bunch of other foods that can actually help whiten your teeth too:

Apples

Cheese

Milk

Yogurt

Nuts

Raw onions

5. Teeth Whitening Toothpaste

Whitening toothpaste is another popular at-home teeth whitening method.

These types of toothpaste contain ingredients which help polish and mildly abrade your teeth to help reduce discoloration, and gentle chemical bleaching agents to help whiten your teeth.

Teeth whitening toothpaste can be effective, but you won’t see results overnight.

It will take some time for you to notice results from regular brushing with whitening toothpaste, but if it helps you brush more frequently, for the prescribed two minutes at a pop, then that’s also an added benefit.

For something more immediate, many people turn to whitening strips as their preferred at-home teeth whitening method of choice.

6. Teeth Whitening Strips

Teeth whitening strips are often considered more effective than whitening toothpaste because the peroxide & bleaching agents remain in direct contact with your teeth for the recommended time that you wear them.

Whitening strips come in a set, one for the top teeth and one for the bottom teeth.

They’re relatively inexpensive, easy to apply, not too uncomfortable, and you’ll usually notice results in a week or two – depending on the particular product you use.

One thing you want to be mindful of is the instructions on the package, do not leave the strips on longer than the recommended duration, doing so can actually damage your tooth enamel.

Whitening strips have also been responsible for increasing sensitivity with some people, again due to the chemicals and bleaching agents.

7. Try Whitening Gel

Teeth whitening gels work a lot like strips and are another popular at-home teeth whitening method.

As whitening strips are placed onto your teeth, whitening gels are either brushed onto teeth or placed into a tray, which is basically a mouthpiece.

You would then either leave the gel on your teeth or wear the trays for the recommended amount of time, depending on the specific product.

After that time, you then either brush your teeth to wash off the gel or simply remove the tray and rinse your mouth.

One of the biggest differences between whitening strips and whitening gels is the coverage.

Whereas strips often do not cover along the gumline, gels & trays allow more of the whitening ingredients to stay in contact with the entire tooth surface.

Gels and trays often tend to stay in place better than whitening strips, affording some people a more effective at-home teeth whitening solution.

What’s The #1 At-Home Teeth Whitening Method?

There isn’t one.

Simply put, everyone’s teeth are different and without knowing what exactly is the underlying cause of your yellowing teeth it’s impossible to define which method is best for you.

What we do know is that if you’re really looking for a dazzling, healthy looking, whiter smile, your dentist provides the most effective teeth whitening solution.

Whether it’s ZOOM! teeth whitening that’s performed in the dentist’s office, or a superior at-home teeth whitening product that you can’t buy over the counter, your dentist knows best.

In-office teeth whitening has been said to be 8x more effective than any at-home whitening solution.

At your dentist, you’ll go into the office with dull yellowish teeth and leave with a whiter, brighter smile, results are immediate.

Having said that, professional teeth whitening will cost you more than an over the counter at-home teeth whitening solution.

But, isn’t your smile worth it?

Somerset NJ ZOOM! Teeth Whitening: Joseph Haddad, D.D.S.

We proudly provide the ZOOM! teeth whitening system & all phases of cosmetic dentistry to the community of Somerset, NJ. 08873, in addition to the surrounding Franklin Township areas of Bound Brook, Hillsborough Township, Readington Township, and Bridgewater.

A bright, beautiful smile can make a big difference. The ZOOM! Whitening System makes it easier and faster than ever before.

ZOOM! is clinically proven to whiten your teeth eight shades* in one hour or six shades* in just one weekend.

We offer the most advanced teeth whitening technology in a comfortable, inviting, comfortable environment.